Avon (Ohio) cornerback Ross Douglas is among the prospect who found it easy to don new colors after committing to Michigan. / Tim Sullivan/Special to DFP

By Tim Sullivan

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

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If you ask Michigan coach Brady Hoke, every Big Ten game is important. He says the goal every year is to win the Big Ten championship and anything less is a failure. Even the championship-focused coach admits, however, that the Ohio State game is more important than other league contests.

That importance spreads into the recruiting world, especially since so many of U-M’s players come from the Buckeye State. Nine of Michigan’s 23 class of 2013 commitments are from Ohio, more than any other state. The class is ranked fifth nationally by Rivals.com with 2,492 points in the rankings formula, 1,036 of those points come from players based in Ohio.

That doesn’t even consider the 25 players on Michigan’s current roster from the Buckeye State, including nine true freshmen.

On the opposite side of the rivalry. The Buckeyes have zero class of 2013 commitments from the state of Michigan. The OSU roster has only two Michiganders -- senior offensive lineman Reid Fragel (Grosse Pointe South) and junior defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins (Detroit Southeastern).

Although the presence of Ohio-born players – those who “understand the rivalry” – has often been blown out of proportion over the years, the fact remains true: much of the talent for both programs comes from Ohio. The state has 20 prospects in the 2013 class rated four-stars or higher (including six committed to U-M), while Michigan has just seven.

On the other hand, out-of-state prospects grow to appreciate the greatest rivalry in college football. Matthews (N.C.) Butler cornerback Channing Stribling grew up in Alabama and North Carolina, but pledged to U-M this summer. Already, he’s immersed himself in the spirit of the rivalry, thanks to one of his high school coaches.

“I’m going to be watching that game,” Stribling said. “One of my coaches is an Ohio State fan ... I predict that we should be able to come out with a win.”

Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine andTheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.